Trenching wheel with front-mounted cleaner

ABSTRACT

Provided is an excavating machine, such as for use in digging trenches. The excavating machine includes an earth moving assembly having a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on the wheel, a frame retaining a portion of the wheel, and a cleaning assembly for removing spoil from the earth moving assembly prior to the wheel entering the frame. The teeth may include first and second cutting portions. The first cutting portion may include a narrow leading edge, while the second cutting portion includes a wide leading edge. Moreover, the cleaning assembly may include right and left cleaning assemblies which may each include side and front cleaning members, as well as a removable tooth. The machine may include at least one spoil surface for moving spoil removed by the cleaning assembly away from the dug trench.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/874,656, filed Sep. 6, 2013, entitled TRENCHING WHEEL WITH RIGIDFRONT-MOUNTED CLEANER, the contents of which is hereby incorporated inits entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to excavating machines, sometimesreferred to as trenchers, of the type having a device for cutting theearth including a digging wheel assembly having a rim structure and aseries of circumferentially spaced teeth, and more particularly to acleaning device for removing spoil which has accumulated in the rimstructure and teeth.

BACKGROUND

Excavating machines are known for use in the cutting of an open trenchhaving either vertical or sloped walls for the purposes of land drainageand irrigation, including agricultural tiling, as well as theinstallation of utilities such as cable lines, pipelines, water lines,sewer lines, etc. These excavating machines are often of a vehiculartype being self-contained and suitably driven for either over-the-roadtravel or movement during use of the earth cutting or trenching device.

It is also known for trenchers of the prior art to have a cleaningdevice. For example, some bucket wheel trenchers use a straight toothcleaner which cuts a groove in the spoil which has accumulated in therim structure and buckets to loosen the spoil so it will fall out of therim structure and buckets and onto a conveyer which expels the spoil toa spoil bank beside the machine. This method is inefficient, especiallywhen the spoil is packed in the rim structure and buckets due to highmoisture or other causes. For example, in these trenchers, much of thespoil continues past the straight tooth cleaner and around the cuttingwheel, thereby reducing the amount of spoil that can be removed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,186 to Yoder et al. the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference, describes an excavating machine with apositive cleaner for a U-shaped cutting wheel. The cleaning devicepositively cleans spoil out of the rim structure and buckets of thedigging wheel assembly. The device includes a cleaning face whichcorresponds substantially in size and shape to the interior profile ofthe rim structure and the bucket. The cleaning face may be angleddownward to force the spoil downwardly onto the conveyor. Moreover, thecleaning face may be biased into contact with the rim structure andbucket of the digging wheel assembly to force the spoil out of the rimstructure and bucket. The Yoder et al. cleaner is located at the top ofthe trenching wheel in the frame. Accordingly, the buckets attached tothe cleaning wheel travel through a portion of the frame prior to beingcleaned.

While the above-described invention to Yoder et al. works well forU-shaped cutting wheels, devices including same are best suited forshallow trenches, such as those less than three feet deep. Deepertrenches require a different digging mechanism. Moreover, the cleaningmechanisms of the prior art are located at the top of the cutting wheelin the wheel frame. Such a configuration does not accommodate the amountof dirt and spoil in deeper trenches. Accordingly, an excavating deviceemploying same becomes bogged down when attempting to dig deepertrenches. Center shank t-shaped buckets are also known. However, cuttingwheels employing these buckets do not work well to dig deeper trenches,are slow, and also do not work well in sandy earth.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an excavating a machine havingan improved trenching assembly with a positive cleaning element whichallows the machine to dig deeper trenches at faster rates. Furthermore,there is a need in the art for an improved digging or earth cuttingmechanism which allows the machine to dig deeper trenches and digtrenches at faster rates.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is an excavating machine having an improved trenching or earthcutting assembly comprising a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on thewheel, and a frame retaining a portion of the wheel. Also included is acleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly removes spoil from the earthmoving assembly prior to the wheel entering the frame. The cleaningassembly may be located forward of the wheel (with the direction offorward travel of the trenching machine being the forward direction). Inone embodiment, the excavating machine wheel is a T-shaped cuttingwheel. Each of the plurality of teeth may include first and secondcutting portions. One of the cutting portions may include a narrowleading edge, while the other cutting portion includes a wide leadingedge. In some embodiments, the placement of the narrow and wide leadingedges may alternate throughout the plurality of teeth. The cleaningassembly may include at least one side cleaning member which removesspoil from the plurality of teeth and the wheel. The cleaning assemblymay further include a front cleaning member and/or at least oneremovable tooth. The cleaning assembly may include right and leftcleaning assemblies. Furthermore, the cleaning assembly may include atleast one spoil surface which moves spoil that has been removed by thecleaning assembly away from a trench being excavated by the machine.

Also provided is an excavating machine having an earth moving assemblyincluding a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on the wheel, and aframe retaining an upper portion of the wheel. The teeth travel throughthe frame after moving earth and each include at least one cuttingportion. The excavating machine may also include a cleaning assemblyhaving at least one cleaning member which removes spoil from the atleast one cutting portion. Furthermore, the cleaning assembly removesspoil from the earth moving assembly prior to the wheel entering theframe. The excavating machine may further include a spoil surface toremove spoil that has been cleaned by the cleaning assembly from the topof the trench being excavated. In addition, the plurality of teeth ofthe excavating machine may include first and second cutting portions,such as a first cutting portion with a narrow leading edge and a secondcutting portion with a wide leading edge. The excavating machine mayinclude right and left cleaning assemblies which may each have side andfront cleaning members, as well as a removable tooth.

In addition, an excavating machine is provided comprising an earthmoving assembly. The earth moving assembly may include a wheel, aplurality of teeth mounted on the wheel, and a frame retaining an upperportion of the wheel. Each of the plurality of teeth may include twocutting portions, with the first cutting portion having a narrow leadingedge and the second cutting portion having a wide leading edge. Theteeth may travel through the frame after moving earth. In addition, acleaning assembly may be located forward of the wheel, with the cleaningassembly having right and left cleaning assemblies. The right and leftcleaning assemblies may each include a side cleaning member, frontcleaning member, and a removable tooth. The cleaning assembly may removespoil from the earth moving assembly prior to the wheel entering theframe. In addition, the excavating machine may include two spoilsurfaces which move spoil away from the top of a trench being excavatedby the excavating machine.

Accordingly, a trenching machine of the present invention includes apositive cleaning element at the front of the cutting wheel. Moreover,the trenching machine of the present invention includes an improvedcutting means. The cleaning mechanism positively cleans the earth movingassembly before dirt and spoil is able to move to, and become lodged in,the frame of the earth moving assembly. In the preferred embodiment, acleaner, which may be rigid, is located on either side of the wheel;however, it is anticipated that other designs may be employed, as willbe discussed in further detail herein.

The excavating machine of the present invention also includes means forpushing cleaned spoil away from the top of the trench. This prevents thespoil from falling back into the trench as the machine digs same. Inanother embodiment, an auger or conveyer may be used to move dirt awayfrom the trench. The assembly of the present invention may be used todig trenches deeper and faster than excavating devices of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an excavating machine of the presentinvention in the lowered position at the bottom of a trench.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the cutting wheel and frame assemblies ofthe excavating machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the teeth of the cutting wheel assemblyof FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4A is a side elevation view of a tooth of the cutting wheelassembly of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 4B is a side elevation view of the opposite side of the tooth ofthe cutting wheel assembly of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of two teeth of the cutting wheelassembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thecleaning assembly of the excavating machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the cleaning assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the opposite side of the cleaningassembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of a cleaningassembly of an excavating machine of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the second embodiment of a cleaningassembly of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a spoil arm of the excavating machineof FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of an excavating machine 100having a trenching wheel 108 (also called an earth cutting wheel orcutting wheel) with a front-mounted cleaner. In the preferredembodiment, the front-mounted cleaner is rigidly attached to the machine100, although it need not be as will be discussed in further detailbelow. The machine includes an improved earth cutting or trenchingassembly 106, including a cutting wheel 108 with teeth 110 and afront-mounted cleaning assembly 136 (sometimes “cleaning assembly”). Thetrenching wheel and cleaning assembly are designed for use with anexcavating machine (sometimes “machine”); however, it is anticipatedthat other uses of such an assembly may exist. References to direction,particularly forward of the cutting wheel or in front of the cuttingwheel, refer to the direction which is in front of the excavatingmachine or in which the excavating machine travels in the forwarddirection unless otherwise provided.

Referring to FIG. 1, a trenching machine 100 of the present invention isshown. The trenching machine 100 includes a power unit vehicle 102. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the power unit vehicle 102 is supported bywheels 104. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that powerunit vehicles 102 other than the type illustrated, as well as means formovement other than the illustrated wheels 104 may be employed by atrenching machine 100 of the present invention. The power unit vehicle102 may be powered by any means known in the art, now or in the future,such as a typical motor. Also included is an earth cutting or trenchingassembly 106. Also shown in FIG. 1, the trenching assembly furtherincludes a trenching wheel 108. The trenching wheel 108 includes aplurality of circumferentially spaced teeth 110 located on a rim 112. Aswill be discussed in further detail below, the trenching assembly 106 isshown in its lowered position at the bottom of a trench 120. Also shownis a frame 114, which is connected to the power unit 102 either directlyor via one or more arms 116. The frame 114 supports the trenching wheel108. Also shown is a cleaning assembly 136. As will be discussed infurther detail below, the cleaning assembly 136 is a front-mountedcleaner, which is preferably rigid. Accordingly, the cleaning assembly136 removes spoil from the teeth 110 and wheel 108 prior to thesecomponents entering the frame 114. Operably connected to the frame is afirst spoil arm 126, also called a spoil surface. As will be discussedbelow, a symmetrical spoil arm is also located on the opposite side ofthe machine 100. Moreover, as will also be discussed in further detailbelow, the spoil arms 126 move spoil away from the trench 120 that isbeing dug by the machine 100.

The trenching machine 100 further includes a shoe assembly 118. The shoeassembly 118 is operably connected to the rear 124 of the frame 114. Theshoe assembly further includes a first side plate 122 and a second sideplate (not shown) for contact with the side walls of the trench 120. Thecontact of the shoe assembly 118 with the side walls of the trench 120reduces and/or prevents a cave-in of the side walls of the trench 120during use of the machine 100.

The trenching assembly 106 is movable between raised and loweredpositions. FIG. 1 illustrates the trenching assembly 106 in the loweredposition at the bottom of a trench 120 which is being dug by the machine100. Arrow A shows the direction of movement of the trenching assembly106 to the raised position. In the raised position, the trenchingassembly 106 is located above ground level. The trenching assembly 106may also be located at any position between the fully raised and loweredpositions. The raising and lowering of the trenching assembly 106 may beby any method known in the art, now or in the future. One such method isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,750, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference, which employs an arm assembly that israised and lowered via a hydraulic cylinder.

Referring to FIG. 2, the trenching assembly 106 is shown in furtherdetail. Shown is the trenching wheel 108 having a rim 112 and pluralityof circumferentially spaced teeth 110. In the preferred embodiment, thewheel 108 is a center shank T-shaped cutting wheel. However, it isanticipated that other types of wheels may be used without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. Preferably, the teeth 110 aremounted to a center shank ring. The wheel 108 is supported internally bya plurality of wheel support members 130, which are rigidly connected tothe frame 114. Further, a plurality of wheel support rollers 132 areconnected to the plurality of wheel support members 130. The wheelsupport rollers 132 contact the rim 112, allowing the rim 112, andtherefore the wheel 108, to turn or travel around the rollers 132 andwheel support members 130. Turning of the wheel 108 about the wheelsupport rollers 132 may be driven by a drive mechanism, which in thepreferred embodiment is a drive motor 134. The wheel is turned via thedrive motor 134 in the direction of arrow B, such that the teeth 100contact the ground to dig the trench 120.

Also shown is the frame 114. The wheel 108 is connected to the frame 114such that the wheel 108 may turn or rotate with respect to the frame114. Specifically, as discussed above, the wheel support members 130 maybe rigidly connected to the frame 114. Therefore, the wheel 108 may turnabout the wheel support members 130 and wheel support rollers 132 whileremaining appropriately positioned with respect to the frame 114. Theframe 114 is operably connected to the power vehicle unit 102 such thatthe trenching assembly 106, including but not limited to the frame 114and wheel 108, may be raised and lowered as discussed above. To thatend, the frame may be connected to the power unit vehicle 102 via atleast one arm 116. In the preferred embodiment, the arm 116 is ahydraulic arm which may be shortened and lengthened in order to raiseand lower the trenching assembly 106. Furthermore, in the preferredembodiment, the machine 100 includes a set of two parallel hydraulicarms. Of course, as one of skill in the art will appreciate, othermethods of raising and lowering the trenching assembly 106 may beemployed. In addition, other means of connecting the trenching assembly106 to the power unit vehicle 102 may be used, as well as other mans forconnecting the wheel to the frame 114 and/or power unit vehicle 102.

Also connected to the frame 114 is a cleaning assembly 136. The cleaningassembly 136 includes a front-mounted cleaner. Therefore, the cleaningassembly 136 is located in front of, or toward the direction of travel,with respect to the frame 114. Therefore, following the direction ofarrow B, the teeth 110 of the trenching assembly 106 reach the cleaningassembly 136 prior to entering the frame 114. It follows, then, that theteeth 110 and corresponding portion of the wheel 108 are cleaned priorto entering the frame 114. Therefore, cleaning occurs before dirt andspoil is able to move to, and become lodged in, the frame. There are anumber of advantages to such a configuration. First, the positivecleaning element allows the machine to dig deeper trenches. Furthermore,the positive cleaning element allows the machine to dig trenches faster.In addition, such a cleaning assembly is more effective in sandy soilsthan trenching machines of the prior art. The cleaning assembly 136includes both a right side cleaning assembly 138 (not shown in FIG. 2.)and a left side cleaning assembly 140 (looking in the direction oftravel). Shown in FIG. 2 is the preferred embodiment of the left sidecleaning assembly 140, which may be symmetrical to the right sidecleaning assembly. In the preferred embodiment, each of the rightcleaning assembly 138 and left cleaning assembly 140 includes a sidecleaning member and a front cleaning member. Shown in FIG. 2 is the leftside cleaning member 142 and left side front cleaning member 144.

Also shown is the first spoil arm 126. As discussed above, the machine100 includes two spoil arms 126, one of which is shown in FIG. 2. Thespoil arms 126, 128 are configured to move dirt and spoil away from thetop of the trench 120. Therefore, the spoil arms 126, 128 prevent dirtand spoil which is cleaned from the trenching assembly 106 or which isotherwise present at the top of the trench 120 from falling back intothe trench. In addition to the spoil arm 126 shown in FIG. 2, a secondspoil arm may be located on the opposite side of the machine 100. Thesecond spoil arm may be symmetrical to the spoil arm 126 shown in FIG.2.

As discussed above, preferably, the teeth 110 are mounted to a centershank ring. Trenching assemblies and wheels of the prior art includeU-shaped buckets. Accordingly, the bucket digs into the earth andremoves a portion of same, which is carried in the bucket until it fallsor is cleaned out of the bucket. The teeth 110 of the present inventioninclude an improved shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the teeth 110 may includea center support portion 150 and at least one cutting portion 151, whichextends to one or both sides of the center support portion 150. Theteeth 110 are generally an upside down triangle shape. In the preferredembodiment, the teeth each may include two cutting portions 151. Inaddition, the teeth 110 may be offset from the center, which is moreclearly shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the teeth 110 cuttingportions 151 may have a narrow leading edge 152 or a wide leading edge154. Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 3, alternating teeth 110 mayalternate with respect to whether the narrow edge 152 or wide edge 154is located to the right or the left. In the preferred embodiment,however, the narrow leading edge 152 is generally centered or nearlycentered on the wheel 108, the advantage of which will be discussedbelow.

Both the narrow edge 152 and wide edge 154 of the cutting portions 151may be sharp so as to dig into the ground. As mentioned above, thenarrow edge 152 cutting portion 151 and wide edge 154 cutting portion151 of each tooth 110 may alternate. Such an arrangement is beneficialfor removing larger pieces of earth. For example, a leading narrow edge152 cutting portion 151 will cut a groove in the earth. The next toothwill have a wide edge 154 cutting portion 151 where the preceding narrowedge 152 has cut the groove, thereby spreading the size of the groove.Alternating the narrow edge 152 cutting portion 151 and wide edge 154cutting portion 151 results in less friction than using cutting portions151 of the same size because fewer and smaller cutting edges are rubbingunderneath the dirt. Moreover, the placement of the teeth 110 withrespect to the wheel 108 may vary so as to further dig beside theinitially-dug groove and widen the trench that is cut by the precedingcutting portions 151.

It is anticipated that the cutting portions may be of any width andsharpness. Moreover, it is anticipated that there may be embodimentswhere the narrow edge 152 and wide edge 154 are in a differentconfiguration, such as not alternating, without departing from the scopeof the invention. It is anticipated that different configurations may beadvantageous in varying types of soil. For example, the teeth 110 of thepresent invention may also be used with a rock tip, such as a carbiderock tip, which may be advantageous in rocky soils. In addition, thetrenching wheel 108 of FIGS. 1-3 includes a cutout 156 between eachtooth 110, as shown in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, a cutout 156 may onlybe included between every third tooth 110. It is anticipated that thelatter configuration may be advantageous in rocky soils, as rocks maybecome caught in these cutouts 156. However, it is anticipated that anyconfiguration may be used without departing from the scope of theinvention.

FIG. 4A provides a side view of an embodiment of a tooth 110 of thepresent invention. Specifically, the side of the narrow leading edge 152is shown. Furthermore, FIG. 4B, provides a side view of an embodiment ofa tooth 110 wherein the wide leading edge 154 is shown. As discussedabove, in the preferred embodiment, the narrow leading edge 152 and wideleading edge 154 alternate left and right sides of the teeth 110projected from the center support portion 150. This configuration isshown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the narrowleading edges 152 are located at or near the center line 158 of thewheel 108. As discussed above, this configuration presents animprovement over the prior art and leads to more efficient trenching,allowing a user to dig trenches faster and trenches which are deeper.

Returning to FIG. 2, the cutting wheel 108 turns in the direction ofarrow B. Accordingly, as the excavating machine 100 moves forward in thedirection of arrow C, a trench 120 is created behind the machine 100.The plurality of teeth 110 cut into the dirt and move same from thetrench 120. In addition, the shoe assembly 118 (shown in FIG. 1),including the two side plates 122, contact the side of the trench 120immediately after it is dug by the trenching assembly 106 in order toprevent a cave-in of the side walls of the trench during use of theexcavating machine 100.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the trenching machine 100 of the presentinvention also includes an improved cleaning assembly 136. Detail of apreferred embodiment of an improved cleaning assembly 136 is shown inFIGS. 6-8. The cleaning assembly 136 is located near the front, or leadside, of the wheel 108 (in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 2).Because the cleaning assembly 136 is located forward and underneath theframe 114, the wheel 108 and teeth 110 are cleaned prior to the teeth110 entering the cutting wheel frame 114. Therefore, spoil does notcollect in the frame 114. A side view of the left side of the machine100 (when facing the direction of forward travel shown by arrow C ofFIG. 2) showing the left side cleaning assembly 140 is provided in FIG.6. As discussed below, it will be appreciated that similar componentsare found on the right side of the machine 100.

The left side cleaning assembly 140 includes a left side or sidecleaning member 142 and a left side front or left front cleaning member144. The left side cleaning assembly 140 may be rigidly attached to theframe 114. Specifically, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, theside cleaning member 142 may be rigidly attached to the frame 114 usingany method known in the art now or in the future. Alternatively, thecleaning assembly 136, including the left cleaning assembly 140, neednot be rigidly attached to the frame 114 or attached to the frame 114 atall without departing from the scope of the invention. For examplespring-loaded or hydraulic powered cleaners may be used withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. The left side cleaning member142 may be a side plate or plate as shown in FIG. 6 which is located inclose proximity to the wheel 108 and which corresponds in shape to thewheel 108 so as to scrape dirt and spoil off of the wheel. Furthermore,as a tooth 110 travels through the cleaning assembly 136 the narrowleading edge 152 travels between the left cleaning assembly 140 andright cleaning assembly 138 (discussed in further detail below).Therefore, the two cleaning assemblies 138, 140 work in cooperation toscrape dirt and spoil from the narrow leading edge 152 cutting portion151.

Furthermore, the wide leading edge 154 travels outside of the cleaningassembly 136. As discussed above, and shown in FIG. 5, the teeth 100 areoffset from the center, and the wide leading edge 154 alternates betweenbeing located to the left or right of the wheel 108 center line 158.Accordingly, the wide leading edge 156 travels outside of the cleaningassembly 136. Depending on whether the wide leading edge 156 is locatedto the left or right of the center line 158, the wide leading edge 156travels outside of the respective right cleaning assembly 138 or leftcleaning assembly 140. Accordingly, as the two teeth cutting portions151, which in the preferred embodiment include a narrow leading edge 154and wide leading edge 156 travel on either side of one of the two right138 and left 140 cleaning assemblies, the cleaning assembly cleans eachtooth 110 between the cutting portions 151. In addition, the teeth 110are cleaned prior to entering the frame 114. Moreover, the wide leadingedge 156 and wheel 108 are also cleaned prior to entering the frame 114.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the left side cleaningmember includes a front portion 160 and a back portion 162. The frontportion 160 and back portion 162 are at an angle to each other.Preferably, the back portion 162 is generally parallel or at a smallangle to the rim 112 of the wheel 108 in order to scrape spoil off ofthe rim. The front portion 160 is generally perpendicular to the rim 112and also the direction of travel of the machine 100, which is indicatedby arrow C in FIG. 2. The left side front cleaning member 144 may beattached to the frame 114, left side cleaning member 142, or both. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the left side front cleaning member 144is directly attached to the left side cleaning member 142. Specifically,the front cleaning member 144 is located and attached underneath theleft side cleaning member front portion 160 and beside the left sidecleaning member back portion 162. Furthermore, in an alternateembodiment, the left side cleaning member 142 may be configured so as toprovide the function of the spoil arm 126, which is discussed in furtherdetail below. For example, the left side cleaning member 142 may beextended down, back, and/or out to the side of the machine 100 to pushthe dirt and spoil away from the trench 100. In such a configuration,the left side cleaning member 142 could resemble a wing.

Returning again to the illustrated preferred embodiment, the cleaningassembly 136 and specifically the left side cleaning assembly 140 mayfurther include a removable tooth 164, which may be attached to thebottom of the left side front member 144 and located at or near thebottom of both the left side front member 144 and left side cleaningmember 142. It will be understood that preferably the tooth 164 isremovable, although a non-removable or permanent tooth may be employedwithout departing from the scope of the invention. The tooth 164 may bemade of steel or any other material suitable for the application, whichwill be understood by one of skill in the art. The advantage of aremovable tooth 164 is that the tooth 164 may be replaced if necessary,such as due to damage or wear, without replacing the entire cleaningassembly 136 or respective side cleaning assembly.

FIG. 7 provides an elevation view of the left side cleaning assembly140. Shown are the left side cleaning member 142 and front cleaningmember 144. Both the back portion 162 and front portion 164 of the leftside cleaning member 142 may be seen. Also shown is the left sideremovable tooth 164. The left cleaning assembly 140 is attached to theframe 114, which is also connected to the plurality of wheel supportmembers 130. Attached to the wheel support members 130 are the wheelsupport rollers 132, about which the wheel 108 travels. As discussedabove, the teeth 110 extend outside of the wheel 108 from the rim 112and include a center support portion 150 and cutting portion 151. Shownis a cutting portion 151 having a narrow leading edge 152.

FIG. 8 illustrates an elevation view of the right side cleaning assembly138. In the preferred, illustrated embodiment, the right cleaningassembly 138 and left cleaning assembly 140 are symmetrical.Accordingly, the above discussion of the left side cleaning assembly 140is relevant to the right side cleaning assembly 138 and will not berepeated in detail, including potential alternate embodiments of themachine 100 and/or cleaning assembly. However, it will be understood byone of skill in the art that the right 138 and left 140 cleaningassemblies need not be symmetrical. Shown in FIG. 8 is the frame 114 towhich the right side cleaning assembly 138 is preferably rigidlyattached. Also shown is a tooth 110 including a support portion 150 anda cutting portion 151, which includes a narrow leading edge 152. Asdiscussed above, the cutting portion 151 could also include a wideleading edge 154, which would travel outside of the cleaning assembly138. The cleaning assembly includes a right side cleaning member 146 anda right side front cleaning member 148. Furthermore, the right sidecleaning member 146 includes a front portion 166 and back portion 168.The back portion 168 is rigidly connected to the frame 114, although thecleaning assembly 138 need not be non-rigidly connected to the frame 114or not directly connected to the frame 114 at all. Alternatively, thecleaning assembly 138 may be attached to the frame by any other methodknown in the art now or in the future. Further, the frame 114 isconnected to the plurality of wheel support members 130 and wheelsupport rollers 132 about which the wheel 108 turns. Moreover, the rightcleaning assembly 138 includes a removable tooth 170. The tooth 170 neednot be removable; however, as discussed above, employing a removabletooth 170 has the benefit of ease of repair and replacement.

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate a second embodiment of a cleaning assembly 172 andspecifically the left cleaning assembly 174 of the second embodiment172. The right side of the cleaning assembly 172 is preferablysymmetrical to the left cleaning assembly 174. Accordingly, the rightside of the cleaning assembly will not be illustrated or discussed indetail, as the discussion of the left cleaning assembly 174 is relevantto the right side. However, it will be understood by one of skill in theart that the left and right sides need not be symmetrical. Theillustrated second embodiment of the cleaning assembly includes a singleleft cleaning plate 176. The left cleaning plate 176 includes a frontportion 178 and back portion 180. The front portion 178 is generallyperpendicular to the wheel 108 and direction of travel. The back portion180 is generally parallel or at a small angle to the wheel 108 so as toclean same, such as by scraping the dirt and spoil off the wheel 108.However, one of skill in the art will recognize that the left cleaningplate 176 may be at any angle to the wheel 108 that allows the wheel 108to be cleaned. Furthermore, one of skill in the art will recognize thatthe left cleaning plate 176 need not include multiple portions and maybe configured in any arrangement which results in removing at least aportion of the dirt and spoil from the wheel 108.

Also shown is the frame 114 to which the cleaning assembly 172,including the left cleaning plate 176, is preferably attached, as well awheel support roller 132 about which the wheel 108 turns. Furtherincluded is a tooth 110, which is attached to the rim 112 of the wheel108. The tooth 110 includes a center support portion 150 and two cuttingportions 151. The tooth includes both a narrow leading edge 152 cuttingportion and a wide leading edge 154 cutting portion.

The preferred embodiment of the excavating machine 100 also includes apair of spoil arms. FIG. 11 provides a view of the left spoil arm 126.It will be understood by one of skill in the art that, in the preferredembodiment, the right spoil arm is symmetrical to the left spoil arm126. Accordingly, it will not be shown or discussed in detail. However,it will also be understood by one of skill in the art that the right andleft spoil arms need not by symmetrical. The spoil arm 126, which mayalso be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, push spoil away from the top of thetrench 120, including spoil which has been removed by the cleaningassembly 136 or 172. Accordingly, cleaned spoil does not fall back intothe trench 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the spoil arm 126 is afoldable arm that includes at least a portion which is generally at anangle to the wheel 108 so as to push spoil out and away from the top ofthe trench 120. As one of skill in the art will recognize, the spoil arm126 may be any shape, size, or assembly that serves the purpose ofpushing soil away from the top of the trench 120. For example, in analternative embodiment, hinged assemblies could be used, such as thosehaving a general shape of a less than sign (“>”). In another embodiment,the spoil arm 126 may be rigid rather than foldable or hinged, such asby a rigid connection to the frame 114. In addition, it is anticipatedthat the cleaning assembly 136 or 172 could be used with an auger orconveyer (not shown) to move dirt out of the machine 100 and away fromthe trench 120. The spoil arm 126 may be connected to the frame 114,such as by a rotatable connection 186. Accordingly, the spoil arm 126may be located in a lowered position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 11 ora raised position, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 11.

By utilizing the improved teeth 110 and placing a positive cleaner atthe front of the cutting wheel 108 and frame 114, the trenching machine100 herein disclosed provides a means for digging deeper trenches andfor digging trenches faster than prior art trenching machines. Forexample, in one embodiment, a four foot trench may be dug at a rate of75-100 feet per minute or faster. Machines of the prior art generallydig a 4 feet deep trench at 50 feet per minute if even capable ofdigging a trench deeper than 3 feet. Moreover, trenches six feet deepmay be dug.

Although various representative embodiments of this invention have beendescribed above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled inthe art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodimentswithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive subjectmatter set forth in the specification and claims. Joinder references(e.g. attached, adhered, joined) are to be construed broadly and mayinclude intermediate members between a connection of elements andrelative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do notnecessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixedrelation to each other. In some instances, in methodologies directly orindirectly set forth herein, various steps and operations are describedin one possible order of operation, but those skilled in the art willrecognize that steps and operations may be rearranged, replaced, oreliminated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention. It is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail orstructure may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to theembodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications,variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents, whether knownor that are or may be presently foreseen, may become apparent to thosehaving at least ordinary skill in the art. Listing the steps of a methodin a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order ofthe steps of the method. Accordingly, the embodiments of the inventionset forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Personsskilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form anddetail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Therefore, the invention is intended to embrace all known or earlierdeveloped alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/orsubstantial equivalents.

1. An excavating machine comprising: an earth moving assembly comprisinga wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on said wheel, and a frameretaining a portion of said wheel; a cleaning assembly; and saidcleaning assembly removing spoil from said earth moving assembly priorto said wheel entering said frame.
 2. The excavating machine of claim 1wherein said cleaning assembly is located forward of said wheel.
 3. Theexcavating machine of claim 1 wherein said wheel is a center shankT-shaped cutting wheel.
 4. The excavating machine of claim 1 whereineach of said plurality of teeth includes a first cutting portion and asecond cutting portion.
 5. The excavating machine of claim 4 whereinsaid first cutting portion includes a narrow leading edge and saidsecond cutting portion includes a wide leading edge.
 6. The excavatingmachine of claim 5 wherein the position of said first and second cuttingportions alternate among each of the plurality of teeth.
 7. Theexcavating machine of claim 1 wherein said cleaning assembly includes atleast one side cleaning member.
 8. The excavating machine of claim 7wherein said cleaning assembly further includes at least one frontcleaning member.
 9. The excavating machine of claim 8 wherein saidcleaning assembly further includes at least one removable tooth.
 10. Theexcavating machine of claim 9 wherein said cleaning assembly includes aright side cleaning assembly and a left side cleaning assembly.
 11. Theexcavating machine of claim 1 further comprising at least one spoilsurface, said spoil surface moving said spoil removed by said cleaningassembly away from a trench being excavated by said excavating machine.12. An excavating machine comprising: an earth moving assemblycomprising a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on said wheel, and aframe retaining an upper portion of said wheel; said teeth travelingthrough said frame after moving earth; each of said plurality of teethincluding at least one cutting portion; a cleaning assembly, saidcleaning assembly comprising at least one cleaning member, said cleaningmember removing spoil from said at least one cutting portion; and saidcleaning assembly removing spoil from said earth moving assembly priorto said wheel entering said frame.
 13. The excavating machine of claim12 further comprising a spoil surface to remove spoil that has beencleaned by said cleaning assembly from the top of a trench beingexcavated by said excavating machine.
 14. The excavating machine ofclaim 13 wherein at least one of said plurality of teeth includes firstand second cutting portions.
 15. The excavating machine of claim 14wherein said first cutting portion includes a narrow leading edge andsaid second cutting portion includes a wide leading edge.
 16. Theexcavating machine of claim 15 wherein said cleaning assembly includes aright cleaning assembly and a left cleaning assembly.
 17. The excavatingmachine of claim 16 wherein each of said right and left cleaningassemblies includes a side cleaning member, front cleaning member, andremovable tooth.
 18. An excavating machine comprising: an earth movingassembly comprising a wheel, a plurality of teeth mounted on said wheel,and a frame retaining an upper portion of said wheel; each of saidplurality of teeth including two cutting portions, the first cuttingportion having a narrow leading edge and the second cutting portionhaving a wide leading edge; said teeth traveling through said frameafter moving earth; a cleaning assembly located forward of said wheel,said cleaning assembly comprising a right cleaning assembly and a leftcleaning assembly; each of said right and left cleaning assembliesincluding a side cleaning member, front cleaning member, and a removabletooth; said cleaning assembly removing spoil from said earth movingassembly prior to said wheel entering said frame; and two spoilsurfaces, said spoil surfaces moving spoil away from the top of a trenchbeing excavated by said excavating machine.